Clergy offers guidance without slant

Lolita Harper

Regardless of what side of the political fence local religious

leaders fall on, most clergy agreed Friday that their role was to

encourage prayer for quick resolve to the war, with minimal loss of

life.

“No one likes war, whatever side you come down on,” said John

Huffman, pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach.

He and his congregation at St. Andrews prayed justice could be

served without a war, but since it could not be averted, they are

praying for minimum casualties, he said. The church will set aside a

time for silent prayer, as well as lead formal prayers on behalf of

the entire congregation during church services, he said.

Pastor Bill Godwin at Fairview Community Church in Costa Mesa said

his church as a body has no official stance on the war and will not

set aside time for prayers specific to that subject.

He admits many members are “definitely part of the antiwar

movement.” Individually, members of Fairview Community Church have

posted announcements on where and how to attend antiwar rallies, he

said, but the church has not preached on it as an issue. Church

leaders have also encouraged people to write letters to President

Bush about their thoughts on the war, but never told people what to

write.

“We have people on both sides,” he said. “We have doves and we

have hawks.”

Many members of his church have taken part and will continue to

take part in antiwar efforts, but they do not reflect the opinion of

the body of worshipers, he said.

Fairview Community Church is a member of American Baptist Churches

USA, which has come out against the war and encourages humanitarian

aid to Iraqis after the war, Godwin said, but he reiterated that his

church is keeping an independent stance.

“We are praying for the whole situation,” Godwin said. “The

general agreeing point is, no matter how you feel about the politics

of the war, you pray for a quick end, for the American troops and the

Iraqi troops.”

Reuven Mintz of Chabad Jewish Center in Newport Beach said the

center will hold a special prayer during regular service for the men

and women who are serving so “they can achieve their mission and come

back home quickly and safely.”

Mintz also encourages people to continue to “spread light” and

acts of kindness during a time that is marked with violence. People

should pray for general peace and try to help their neighbors as

often as possible to spread the cycle of good will, he said.

The center sponsored a “spread the light campaign” shortly after

Sept. 11, 2001, in which they distributed small boxes to be filled

with coins, to be donated to charitable causes.

The purpose was to remind people that charity can be spread daily,

through incremental giving, and although the portions may be small,

the affects are far-reaching.

“We are always encouraging that,” Mintz said. “Now we should

increase that and recommit to our efforts of good deeds, especially

in this time when we need it the most.”